Vadivelu’s ‘Eli’ a big let-down

Weak script, long story and not at all funny

By Mythily Ramachandran

Eli Samy (Vadivelu) is a petty thief who makes money by conning people and when he trespasses into a cop’s house that’s the limit. Obviously he is caught but he is given a chance by the police to redeem himself. Which means he has to infiltrate a criminal gang, which is into smuggling cigarettes and assist the police in the project.
Did I mention that Eli is so named after his mother Elizabeth, a British tourist who met his father, Samy, a guide?
‘Eli’ with Vadivelu in the lead promised great laughs, but despite all the hype it sunk like a damp squib.
Vadivelu’s exaggerated acting did little to tickle the funny bone,  And his expressions often bordered on caricatures that you indulge in sometimes to entertain a little child. Dressing Eli as a sexy woman is neither funny. And, viewers have had enough of toilet humour.  But I must say that I enjoyed Vadivelu’s song sequence ‘Mere Sapanon Ki Rani,’ (from Rajesh Khanna’s ‘Aradhana’), the comedian imitates the late actor very well. Sada looks a pretty picture.
Yuvaraj Dayalan’s script is weak. The film is exhaustingly long. Don’t forget the joke is on us!
‘Eli’ clearly disappoints Vadivelu fans.